Besides, I can assure you that such a marriage could not possibly have the usual results." "I have no uneasiness on that score, otherwise I should scarcely venture to make you an offer.

But there is another point on which I shall require a satisfactory assurance from you." "A satisfactory assurance from me?
Now it is the turn of my beard, I suppose," murmured Abellino, smoothing down his black whiskers.
"The assurance I want from you," said the banker, cheerfully, "is that you will live long enough." "Naturally, lest I die before my uncle." "It might so happen.

I will, therefore, not only give you money, but will take care that no harm happens to your life." "How ?" "I mean to say, so long as old John Karpathy is alive, you must fight no duels, go to no stag or boar hunts, undertake no long sea voyage, enter into no liaison with any ballet-dancer; in a word, you must engage to avoid everything which might endanger your life." "And I suppose I must also drink no wine and ascend no staircase, as the drink might fly to my head, and I might fall down and break my neck ?" "I won't bind you too strictly.

I admit that you may find the enumerated prohibitions somewhat grievous, but I know of a case which would free you from them all." "And that is---- ?" "If you were to marry." "Parbleu! Rather than do that I would engage never to mount a horse or handle a weapon." "Look at it in this way.

Suppose you were to honour an elegant young gentlewoman with your hand.